JOB DETAILS

Type of contract : Consultant Contract

Level :  Level 2 - Middle

Hiring Unit : Division for Communications and Public Engagement (CPE)

Duty Station : New Delhi

Work location : Remote

Duration of contract : 12 months

Hiring open to : External candidates

Application deadline (Midnight UTC+5 Time) : 13/10/2026

UNESCO Core Values: Commitment to the Organization, Integrity, Respect for Diversity, Professionalism

Long Description

The roster will be valid from 01 January 2026 to 31 December 2027, or until further notice. UNESCO reserves the right to extend or close the roster at any time.

OVERVIEW

UNESCO — the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization — works to build peace, eradicate poverty, and foster sustainable development through education, the sciences, culture, communication and information. The UNESCO Regional Office for South Asia, based in New Delhi, oversees UNESCO's programmes and partnerships across India, Sri Lanka, Maldives, Bhutan, Nepal, and Bangladesh, working closely with governments, civil society, and partners to advance these goals.

The Regional Office's Communications and Public Engagement (CPE) function is responsible for amplifying the visibility and impact of UNESCO's work across the region. This includes producing and disseminating content across digital and social media platforms, covering events and field activities, designing publications and communications materials, and managing UNESCO's regional brand presence. The CPE team works across all of UNESCO's programme sectors — education, culture, sciences, and communication and information.

To support this mandate, the UNESCO Regional Office for South Asia is seeking qualified individuals to join a Creative Services Roster. Rostered candidates will be selected for projects on an 'on-call' basis, with no guarantee of assignment, to provide Graphic Designing services across a range of communications and public engagement activities.

The roster will be valid from 01 January 2026 to 31 December 2027, or until further notice. UNESCO reserves the right to extend or close the roster at any time.

GENERAL CONDITIONS APPLICABLE TO ALL CATEGORIES

Type of Contract

Individual Consultant (Non-Staff). Contracts may be issued to individuals depending on the nature and scale of the assignment” to “The roster is open to individual consultants. Individuals affiliated with an agency or firm may also apply in their individual capacity, provided they are legally permitted to undertake consultancy work independently. Contracts will be issued directly to the selected individual consultant

Geographic Coverage

The roster is open to candidates of any nationality who are based in South Asia. Candidates must clearly indicate in their application:

• Their country of residence/base; and
• The region(s) within India and/or countries in South Asia where they are available to undertake assignments.

Long Description

Copyright and Intellectual Property Rights (All Categories): All copyright and intellectual property rights in materials produced under this assignment shall vest in UNESCO. The selected candidate/consultant shall provide UNESCO with all final and editable/source files. UNESCO shall have the exclusive worldwide right to use, reproduce, adapt, publish, distribute and otherwise exploit the materials, in any form or on any platform. No material may be used, published, or reproduced by the candidate/consultant without prior written permission from UNESCO Regional Office for South Asia, New Delhi. All work must be original and must not infringe third-party rights. AI-generated visual content is prohibited “unless expressly authorized by UNESCO.

COMPETENCIES - Core (C) & Managerial (M)

• Communication (C)
• Accountability (C)
• Innovation (C)
• Knowlegde sharing and continuous improvement (C)
• Planning and organizing (C)
• Results focus (C)
• Teamwork (C)

For detailed information, please consult the UNESCO Competency Framework.

Long Description

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE

To enhance the visibility and impact of UNESCO's work in the region, the UNESCO Regional Office for South Asia (UNESCO New Delhi) is seeking qualified individuals and agencies to join a roster of graphic designers. Rostered candidates will be engaged on an 'on-call' basis to provide design and layout services for UNESCO publications, campaigns, events, and digital communications.

A significant and growing proportion of UNESCO's design needs are for social media: static tiles, animated posts, infographics, campaign visuals, event graphics, and digital toolkits. Candidates should be proficient in designing for digital and social platforms alongside traditional print formats.

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES

• Conceptualize and develop creative, visually engaging designs for print and digital products, including publications, reports, brochures, infographics, social media assets, presentations, websites, e-newsletters, motion graphics, animations, and other communication materials.
• Design social media content — static tiles, animated posts, campaign visuals, story formats, and infographics — optimized for Instagram, Facebook, X/Twitter, LinkedIn, and YouTube.
• Present design concepts for UNESCO review and produce customized visual solutions that effectively communicate UNESCO's key messages and programme priorities.
• Ensure all designs comply with UNESCO's Graphic Standards and Logo Toolkit, reflect gender equality and cultural diversity, and are respectful of different communities.
• Use interchangeable and transferable fonts (from Adobe Creative Cloud or Google Fonts) and avoid politically sensitive map representations unless approved by UNESCO.

Long Description

• • Secure necessary intellectual property rights for any third-party visual assets used and ensure compliance with copyright requirements.
  • Participate in assignment briefings and coordinate closely with the UNESCO Communications team throughout the design process.
  • Submit draft designs for review, incorporate UNESCO feedback, and deliver final print-ready and digital files, including editable source files and packaged artwork, within agreed timelines.
  • Note: use of AI-generated visual content is prohibited unless expressly authorized by UNESCO.

SCOPE OF WORK AND RATE PROPOSALS

Candidates must propose their service rates as flat rates per page (for publications and documents) or per work (for communication materials and social media assets). Please indicate clearly in the rate form whether the rate is per page or per work.

Long Description

DUTY STATION

The assignment will be remote-based (off-site). Candidates must maintain regular communication with the UNESCO Responsible Officer via email and online meetings throughout the assignment.

REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS

EDUCATION

University degree and/or professional training in graphic design, visual communication, digital design, illustration, or related fields.

WORK EXPERIENCE

Minimum of three (3) years of demonstrable professional graphic design experience, including experience in social media content design and digital communication materials. Experience with publications and institutional communications is an asset.

Long Description

SKILLS AND COMPETENCIES

• Proficiency in Adobe InDesign, Illustrator, and Photoshop; familiarity with Canva, Adobe Express, or equivalent digital-first design tools is an asset;
• Demonstrated experience designing for social media platforms, including knowledge of platform-specific dimensions, formats, and visual best practices;
• Strong understanding of design principles: typography, colour theory, composition, and visual hierarchy;
• Experience with motion graphics or animation (Adobe After Effects or equivalent) is an asset;
• Ability to work with brand guidelines and institutional style standards;
• Ability to manage artwork files and coordinate with printers where required;
• Ability to work independently and efficiently under tight deadlines and revision cycles; and
• Familiarity with UNESCO or UN visual identity standards is an advantage.

LANGUAGES

Fluency in English (both oral and written) is required. 

APPLICATION PROCESS

Interested candidates and agencies should apply through the UNESCO careers website (https://careers.unesco.org/) and follow these steps:

• Create or log in to your account on the UNESCO careers website.
• Download and complete your 'Employment History Form'.
• Prepare the following documents:
• Cover letter: highlighting your most relevant skills and experiences and explaining how your qualifications make you suitable for the assignment(s) applied for. Please indicate the category code (CPE-GD) to which you are applying, and clearly state your region of base (within India) or country of base (outside India) and the regions/countries where you are available to undertake assignment. Agencies should also include a brief organisational profile (year established, size, key clients).
• Curriculum vitae (CV): outlining your professional and educational history, including contact information, work experience, software skills, and language skills. Agencies should submit CVs of at least two (2) key personnel proposed for UNESCO assignments.
• Portfolio: showcasing your relevant skills. The portfolio should include at least three (3) recent work samples with brief descriptions of the project and your role. For CPE-GD  include links to online portfolios where possible.
• Standard service rates: completed in accordance with the rate form relevant to each category applied for (see Annex I). Rates should be quoted in local currency. Agencies should indicate whether rates are per individual team member or per assignment.
• Combine all items (Employment History Form, cover letter, CV or organisational profile, portfolio, and standard service rates) and upload as a single file under the 'Employment History' attachment section.
• Complete or update your 'Candidate Profile'; save and submit your application.

SELECTION AND RECRUITMENT PROCESS

All candidates must complete an online application and provide complete and accurate information. No modifications can be made to the application submitted.

The evaluation of candidates is based on the criteria in the relevant Terms of Reference and the best value for money approach. This may include tests and/or assessments, as well as a competency-based interview. UNESCO uses communication technologies such as video or teleconference and e-mail correspondence for the assessment and evaluation of candidates.

UNESCO recalls that paramount consideration in the selection of candidates for inclusion in the roster shall be the need to secure the highest standards of efficiency, technical competence and integrity. UNESCO applies a zero-tolerance policy against all forms of harassment.

UNESCO is committed to promoting equitable and diverse geographical representation, gender balance, and diversity in terms of nationality and culture in the composition of its rosters. Qualified candidates from non- and under-represented Member States are particularly welcome and strongly encouraged to apply. Individuals from minority and indigenous groups, as well as persons with disabilities, are equally encouraged to apply.

All applications and information submitted as part of the selection process will be treated with the highest level of confidentiality.

Inclusion in the roster does not guarantee assignment; candidates will be contacted on an on-call basis depending on programme needs. Candidates in the final selection step for assignments will be subject to reference checks based on the information provided. 

UNESCO does not charge a fee at any stage of the hiring process.

Long Description

Selection for the roster will be based on a technical and financial evaluation in the ratio of 70:30.  

Individual candidates are assessed on personal experience, portfolio, and proposed rates.

INSTRUCTIONS

Applicants must complete the relevant rate for the category to which they are applying. All forms should be submitted as part of the single combined application file.

Rate Form: CPE-GD – Graphic Designer

Please provide your daily professional rates in local currency.